Thursday, August 18, 2016

2:13 PM

MILWAUKEE -- U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson today sought to downplay the departure of consultant Brad Todd, who had been working on the Oshkosh Republican's media strategy and polling.

Politico Pro first reported the split, citing two GOP sources. The report did not detail why.

Johnson has largely trailed Dem Russ Feingold in polling and is considered one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents in the country. The latest Marquette University Law School Poll had Feingold leading Johnson 49 percent to 43 percent among registered voters and 53-42 among likely voters.

Asked why Todd left, Johnson, who appeared at a WisPolitics.com luncheon today, noted his campaign hired consultants Terry Sullivan and Alex Conant, both of whom worked on Marco Rubio's presidential bid.

The campaign announced a little more than a week ago that both had come on board. Conant specializes in communication and media, while Sullivan was executive director of Rubio’s Reclaim America PAC before working on the senator’s presidential campaign.

“I'm a business guy. [You] try and attract more talent and add to your team,” Johnson said.